Sealing means



Ap N. F. FRETTER V 2,316,059

SEALING MEANS Filed June 19, 1941 2 sheets-sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

N. F. FRETTER SEALING MEANS April 6, 1943.

I Filed June 19, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .1 7. INVENTOR.

- ||v Illl ATTORNEY.

Patented A r. 6, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SEALING MEANS NathanF. Fretter, Royal Oak, Mich. Application 1m 19, 1941, Serial No. 398,793

. 10 Claims.

This invention relates to sealing means arranged between relativelyrotatable members for preventing how or leakage offluids due to gravity,capillary attraction or difference in pressure and for excluding dirt,grit and other foreign matter.

One object of the invention is to provide an improved sealing meansadapted to be mounted between and have sealing engagement with the wallsof inner and outer relatively rotatable members, to prevent flow orleakage from one side of the sealing means, of a fluid, ina liquid orgaseous state, due to gravity, capillary attraction or difference inpressure between the opposite sides of the sealing means.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved sealing meanscomprisinga minimum number of parts which are capable of economicalmanufacture and ready assembly.

Other objects of the invention will be appar-, cut to those skilled inthe art to which my invention relates from the following descriptiontaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is afragmentary sectional view of inner and outer members having betweenthem a. sealing means embodying my invention.

Fig. 1a is a perspective view of the sealing element.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmentary sectional views of different embodimentsof the invention.

Fig 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form ofconstruction; Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig.4.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section of the sealing element, enlarged.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6, but showing a slight modification.

Figs. 8 and 9 are fragmentary sectional views ofsealhigmeans of themshowninFig i, but showing different forms of construction.

Fig. 9a is a section on the line 90-81: of Fig. 9-

Figs. 10 and 11 are fragmentary secln'onal views showing other forms ofconstruction.

In the drawings, referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 1d, l indicatesas an entirety an annulus which forms a sealing member or sealingmembers A, B, one of which is driven in any desired manner. The annulusconsists of a side wall laflaredorinclincdlaterallysofliatits peripheryat one end may sealingly engage the adjacent surface of one member andan annularwall lbatits oppositeendarrangedto sealingly engage a suitableannular surface provided on the other member. In these views the annulusl .is shown as formed of two suitably connected elements, one beingformed of thin V resilient sheet metal la and having a side wall whichis normally inclined outwardly or laterally throughout its circumferenceand is of such size that when the element is positioned in the member B,as shown, the side wall is compressed inwardly and hence'is tending toassume its nor" mal position so that the free circumferential edge ofthe side wall sealingly engages the member B under pressure. The otherelement consists ofa ring lb, preferably formed of bronze and havingsealing engagement with a wall provided on the other member, as laterset forth. Due to the resiliency of the metal of which the element la isformed, its side wall has at all times a sealed relation with the innersurace of the member B to prevent leakage; but where the medium, eitherliquid or gaseous, in the member 13 is under pressure, such pressuresupplements the resiliency of the metal of the member la to force theside wall thereof outwardly circumferentially and hence insures morepositive seal between it and the member B. In this form of construction,the opposite end of the element la. is provided with a flange la: whichis shaped to form a seat lm for the ring lb, the latter by -meansbetween the walls of inner and outer preference being soldered in itsseat. In Fig. 1, the inner member or shaft A is provided outwardly ofbut adjacent to the outer. end

- of the outer member B with a power transmitting the inner side of thehub c of the power transmitting device 0, the effect of which is to sealthe space between the two members A, B. In this arrangement, the innersurface of the device C takes the place of a collar on the shaft A. Itwill be noted that this construction ofsealing means occupies minimumspace longitudinally of the members A, B; accordingly, where the innermember A is provided with a power transmitting device, the sealing meanspermits the pro-, vision of a suitable bearing D adjacent the end of theouter member but inwardly of the sealing means. As shown, the bearing Dis .held in position by a split ring d. In the arrangement shown in Fig.1, if fluid in the space between the members A, B, is under pressure,such pressure may be utilized to maintain the ring lb" in sealingengagement with the device C and also help maintain the outer end of theside wall'of the element la insealing engagement with the member B,Where the fluid in this space is not under pressure, and it is desirableto provide a more positive sealing relation between the ring lb andthewall with which it engages, a suitable spring may be provided toexert pressure upon the ring lb'. For example, in Fig. 1 the springwould be mounted between the ring d and the seat for the ring lb.

In Fig. 2, the side wall of the element la is flared laterally inwardly,as shown at la, the resiliency of the metal serving to normally maintainthe circumferential free end of the side wall la" in sealing engagementwith the wall of the member A. In this arrangement the outer member Bhas secured to it a collar B the inner portion of which is provided withan inwardly extending flange b, the circumferential end edge thereofproviding a wall with which the ring lb sealingly engages. 3 indicates acoiled spring intel-posed between a suitable abutment 6 on the shaft Aand the seat for the ring lb to normally maintain the ring lb underpressure against the wall b. The abutment 4 preferably consists of asplit ring seated in an annular'groove or recess formed in the shaft A.

Fig; 3 illustrates a different form of construction wherein the sealingmeans I are mounted in a housing indicated as an entirety at 5. Thehousing 5 consists of an annular member, formed of sheet metal wherebyit may be readily stamped out, having an outer wall 5a suitably boltedto the end wall of the outer memberB and an inturned side wall 5?) inwhich the sealing means i is mounted. In this form of construction, theside wall of 'the sealing element la seaiingly engages the side wall 51)and the ring lb sealingly engages a circumferential wallon the shaft A,the ring being maintained under pressure against this wall by a spring 6interposed between the seat for the ring lb and an abutment d. Theabutment 4' preferably consists of an annular section formed of sheetmetal whereby it may be readily stamped out in a well known manner.Theside wall 5b is formed with a plurality of indentations 5b whichprovide a seat for the abutment d.

, Fig. 4 illustrates a form of construction which maybe positioned atany desired location longitudinally of the members A, B. In this form ofconstruction, the sealing means I are mounted in a housing comprising aninner member 6 and an outer member 1. The inner member 6 consists of aside wall 6a pressed onto the shaft A and having at one end an outwardlyextending flange 6b with which the sealing element or ring lb sealinglyengages. The outer member 1 consists of a side wall la pressed on theinner wall of the member B and provided at that end remote from theflange 6b with an inwardly extending flange lb. As shown, the outer endof the side wall of the sealing element la sealingly engages the sidewall la and the flange lb serves as an abutment for a spring 8, whichnormallytends to press the element lb against the flange 6b. The flange1b is preferably provided with a plurality of in-turned lugs lb arrangedto engage the adjacent end convolution of the spring l8 and support itconcentrically to the shaft A. The opposite ,endof the spring 8 may beinserted under a lug 9 embossed in the bottom wall of the sealingelement la (see Figs. 6 and 7) so that the spring, annulus l, member Band outer mem- Fig. 8 shows a different form of sealing means,

consisting of a single member Ill having a circumferential side wall,llla terminating in a thin edge at its outer end and at its oppositeend an inwardly extending wall lob which sealingly engages the innerside of an annular wall ll on the shaft A. The side wall llla sealinglyengages the side wall l2 of a housing member lza which is pressed on theinner surface of the member B.

The housing member lZa is provided with an inturned flange l 2b, whichforms an abutment for a spring E3, the spring normally tending to pressthe wall l'llb against the wall ll. The flange M1) is provided with an.in-turned collar lZb' which engages the adjacent end convolution of thespring l3 to support it in concentric relation to the housing memberl2a. The opposite end' of the spring I3 is preferably connected to a luglllb provided on the wall Hill. 7

Figs. 9 and 911 show a form of construction similar to that shown inFig. 8 except that the wall lllb of the sealing member Ill sealinglyengages a flange It provided on a sleeve l la which has a. pressed-onrelation to the shaft A and instead of using a coiled spring insurrounding relation to the shaft A. I provide a plurality of springs l5spaced around the shaft between the flange l2b and wall lob, the latterbeing formed with recesses E6 in which the adjacent ends 0 the springs!5 seat.

Figs. 10 and 11 "show forms of construction wherein the wall of thesealing element la is extended for engagement with the flange lZb cf thehousing member 62a whereby such extensionmay serve as a spring toyieldingly maintain the sealing ring lb in engagement with the wall I lon the shaft A. For example, as shown. in Fig. 10, the side wall la" ofthe sealing element la is of curvilinear shape in crosssection andextendsthroughout its circumference upwardly and inwardly, its marginalend portion having sealing engagement with the flange l2b of the housingmember l2a. In Fig. 11, the inner cirextended upwardly and outwardly,having a curvilinear shape in cross section, as shown atla its marginalend portion having engagement with the flange l2b of the housing memberHe. The wall ,la may be slitted from its outer or free end inwardly anydesired distance, as shown at Where the sealing means are combined witha housing, the outer end of the latter, may be provided with an inturnedcircumferential flange, as shown at 5a in Fig. 3, la in Fig. 4.and Ilain Figs. 8, 9, 10 and il, arranged to extend inwardly of the adjacentend of the sealing means whereby the parts may be held together as anassembly.

To those skilled in the art to which my invention relates many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments of the invention willbe apparent without departing from the spirit and scope thereof. Mydisclosures and the de+ scription herein are purely illustrative and notintended to be in any sense limiting. rwhat I claim is:

l. A sealing device adapted to be mounted between inner and outerrelatively rotatable mem-' 'bers, comprising'an annulus formed of thinresilient metal and having a radially extending flange and asubstantially conically shaped side wall, said side wall extendingsubstantially axially of said members relative to said flange forengagement with the wall of said outer member, the resiliency of themetal serving to maintain the outer end portion of said side wall innormal inner and outer members one of which rotates relative to theother, of a radially extending wall fixed to each of said members, anannulus surrounding said inner member and formed of thin resilientmetal, said-annulus comprising a radially extending flange and asubstantially conically shaped side wall, said side wall extendto saidflange for engagement with said outer member, the resiliency of themetal normally maintaining the outer circumferential end portion of saidside wall in sealing engagement with the inner surface of said outermember, a ring carried by said flange and sealingly engaging saidradially extending wall fixed to said inner member, and a spring betweenthe radially extending wall fixed to said outer member and said flangenormally tending to move said ring toward the radially extending wallfixed to said inner member.

3. 'A sealing means as claimed in claim wherein means are provided forconnecting the spring to said flange and annular wall carried bysaidouter member, whereby. said annulus, ring and spring have substantiallyfixed relation, to said outer member.

4. In a sealing device, the combination with inner and outer members oneof which rotates relative to the other, of a radially extending wallcarried by each of said members, an annulus surrounding said innermember and comprising a ring arranged to sealingly engage the adjacentsurface of the radially extending wall on said inner member and anaxially extending diverging side wall the outer circumferential edge ofwhich sealingly engages the inner surface of said outer member, andspring means between the radially extending ,wall carried by said .outermember and said ring and normally tending to yieldingly maintain thelatter in sealing engagement with the radially extending wall carried bysaid inner member.

, ing substantially axially of said members relative 5. A sealing meansas claimed in claim 4,

wherein means are provided for connecting said spring to said ring andthe annular wall carried by said outer member whereby said annulus andspring have substantially non-rotative relation to said outer member.-

6. A seal assembly for mounting between relaone end to said ring andhaving an annular side wall slidably and sealingly engaging one of thewalls of said annulus, said assembly including spring means for normallymaintaining said ring in yielding engagement with said annular wall.

'7. A seal for assembly between relatively rotatable members, comprising.two parts, one part consisting of a ring formed of solid non-yieldablematerial and adapted to sealingly engage an annular wall on one of saidmembers and the other part being formed of relatively thin resillentmetal rigidly connected at one end to said ring and consisting of anannulushaving an outwardly flaring unbroken side wall arranged to beconstricted circumferentially inwardly when assembled between saidmembers, whereby said side wall due to the resiliency of the metalthereof normally engages a surface of said other member under pressure.

8. In sealing means, the combination with inner and outerrelatively'rotatable members and an annular wall on said inner member,of a housing consisting of a side wall fixedly related to said outermemberand an inturned annular wall, and an annular sealing device formedof thin resilient metal and having a latera'lly flaring side wall theouter end portion of which engages one of the walls of said housing andprovided at its inner end with an annular reinforcement formed of solidnon-yieldable material sealingly engaging said annular wall, theresiliency of the metal of said device serving normally to maintain theouter end portion of its flaring side wall in engagement with the wallof said housing under pressure.

9. In sealing means, ner and outer relatively rotatable members and anannular wall on said inner member, of a housing consisting of a sidewall fixedly related to said outer member and an inturned flange and asealing device formed of thin resilient metal and having a reinforcementsealingly engaging said annular wall, a wall outwardly of saidreinforcement sealingly engaging the 'side wall of said housing and aseparate wall engaging a pair of sealing elements, one element-consisting of a ring formed of non-yieldable material arranged tosealingly engage one of said annular walls and the other elementconsisting of an annulus formed of thin resilient metal and rigidlyconnected at one end to said ring and sealingly engaging the otherannular wall at its opposite end, .the side wall of said annulus beingexpanded laterally into curvilinear form in cross section throughout itscircumference, whereby said annulus, due to the resiliency of the metalthereof serves normally to yieldingly maintain said ring in engagementwith the adjacent an nular wall and its said opposite end in engagementwith the other annular wall.

NATHAN F. FRETTER.

the combination with in- Q

